Synopsis

Descriptions of the characters in this
production are described on a separate web page.

Scene I: The Conflict

On an arbitrary evening CHRIS, the son of ALICE (protagonist) and BOB
(antagonist), is playing with construction
toys. ALICE checks in on CHRIS, but she leaves with a worried
look on her face.

ALICE is working in the kitchen as BOB walks in, asking if
dinner is ready. ALICE says it's not, so BOB begins gently
asking if anything happened during the day to warrant dinner
being late. ALICE concedes there is no special reason why
dinner is not ready.

BOB then begins verbally abusing ALICE,
claiming she has not done anything on time all week He claims
if he performed at work as poorly as she does at home, he would be
fired. As BOB's anger and volume escalate, ALICE tries to calm him
down, claiming CHRIS will hear them in the other room. But by this
time, CHRIS has already donned headphones to tune his parents out.

BOB continues to get angrier, reminding ALICE he has a high pressure
job so she can stay at home and have a big house, nice car, and
expensive clothes. ALICE tries to tell BOB he's not helping her finish
dinner on time. BOB grabs ALICE, she breaks away, but BOB continues
arguing. BOB ends up grabbing ALICE's neck in a choke hold, threatening
to fire her if she doesn't respect him.

Scene II: The Phone Call

ALICE says her husband beat her last night. DEBI asks if ALICE is
in a safe place and can talk. ALICE confirms she is, so DEBI assures
ALICE there is a safe place for her to stay and asks if she would mind
answering a few questions first. ALICE agrees and DEBI proceeds with
the intake.

DEBI ascertains ALICE was beat for not having dinner ready on
time. After assuring ALICE her husband's response was unwarranted,
DEBI inquires about the magnitude of the injury, specifically if ALICE
needs any medical attention. ALICE responds she is hurt but not
bruised, although she has been beaten worse before.

DEBI expresses concern that if ALICE's husband hit her hard enough to
hurt her, he could do something more violent in the future.
Consequently DEBI offers ALICE the opportunity to stay in a domestic
abuse shelter. ALICE objects, wondering how BOB and CHRIS will get
along without her.

After finding out who BOB and CHRIS are, DEBI assures ALICE that CHRIS
can stay at the shelter too. ALICE reveals BOB travels for business
purposes, so DEBI suggests if he is able to look after himself when on
travel, he could probably look after himself while ALICE is at the
shelter.

ALICE is unconvinced, so DEBI asks ALICE to consider what her life would
be like if she stayed at home. DEBI says she can't make the decision to
stay or go but she will support whichever decision ALICE makes. ALICE
ponders this for a moment and decides she needs to leave. DEBI says she
must ask a few more questions before arranging for ALICE to get to the
shelter. ALICE is relieved and expresses her appreciation.

Scene III: At the Shelter

That afternoon ETHYL, a shelter volunteer, brings ALICE and CHRIS
through the front door of their new home
for the next thirty days. ALICE expresses amazement she did not
have to pack. ETHYL reassures ALICE the shelter has everything she
and CHRIS need, but ALICE can go to her home for other items once
things settle.

ETHYL takes CHRIS and ALICE on a tour of the shelter to help them
get familiar with their new surroundings. First stop is the playroom used by the children at the shelter.
CHRIS is immediately enthralled, drops his security toy, and starts
playing with items in the room. ALICE is distraught by this and yells
at CHRIS to stop, but ETHYL assures ALICE the room has been set aside
for the children.

Next ETHYL shows ALICE and CHRIS the bedroom they
will be using. CHRIS nonchalantly takes the top bunk as soon as he
walks into the room but ALICE is too tired to comment. ETHYL shows
ALICE where clothes and toiletries are and offers CHRIS a toy to play
with and take home. ETHYL suggests that ALICE take a breather before
continuing with the tour.

ETHYL later shows ALICE and CHRIS the kitchen
and explains where things are kept as well as the kitchen rules: eat
when you feel like it, but put dishes in the dishwasher when you are
finished.

ETHYL finally visits with just ALICE in the family room to
wrap up the tour. ETHYL explains that in addition to individual
counseling, ALICE will receive group counseling while she stays at the
shelter. ETHYL gives ALICE a journal for her own
use, a copy of the shelter policies, and a notebook for use during
group counseling. ALICE expresses she is tired; ETHYL lets ALICE know
DEBI said ALICE had not slept much the night before, so ETHYL offers
ALICE the opportunity to take a nap. ALICE is thankful, saying she
could use some sleep.

In explaining how the group works, FAITH acknowledges the need for
emotional as well as physical healing. GINA sarcastically infers this
involves gabbing about personal nightmares. FAITH admits this is true
to some extent, as discussing abuse with others to find common
patterns helps survivors discern fiction from truth.

GINA shares her fiction was believing she was
personally responsible for being beaten, as opposed to the truth that
her boyfriend held her to a standard of perfection and then
irresponsibly abused her for not meeting that standard. ALICE,
somewhat in denial, states BOB did not expect her to be perfect
but merely to do her fair share. HEATHER then
shares her fiction was believing if she did a bit more her husband
would be happy, when in reality she could not force her husband to
be happy nor, for that matter, stop abusing her.

FAITH interjects HEATHER's husband is in a batterer's intervention
program (BIP, abuser counseling) and many who complete the BIP learn to
resolve problems without resorting to violence. ALICE expresses she
could not imagine not being beaten for a week. FAITH then
reflects this demonstrates the extent of ALICE's abuse as normally a
person could not imagine being beaten by a loved one.

ALICE then realizes she has been abused and her interaction with BOB
has changed since the couple first married. FAITH shares that, perhaps
with or perhaps without BOB, ALICE can live free from abuse and
the group will support her right to do so.
ALICE, still skeptical in her heart,
expresses her mind's view she can always hope.

INDRA reflects ALICE's new job seems to go well and her attitude
has changed. ALICE comments she is amazed by her own ability to
get and keep a job. HEATHER and GINA both note ALICE always had
the ability to do so while implying perhaps BOB may have thought
otherwise.

ALICE agrees she has improved and wonders aloud when the pain will
stop. ALICE questions why she allowed herself to be abused. INDRA
reflects the abuse ALICE experienced was unwarranted regardless of her
behavior and respecting the reality of the abuse while keeping safe
from further abuse will help ALICE heal.

HEATHER reflects she understand ALICE's pain, noting everyone in the
group was in an uncaring environment. GINA reflects although she hurts,
she realizes there is no requirement to be abused in the future. ALICE
then asks if the pain everyone is feeling ever stops.

INDRA admits there are no guarantees the pain will never come back, yet
eventually survivors realize the abuse is an event in the past. GINA
indicates she doesn't understand why ALICE is complaining because
she has made tremendous progress. ALICE acknowledges her gratitude for
this progress yet confesses she is still fearful when alone.

HEATHER comments there is no need for ALICE to feel alone as she can
draw on the rest of the group for support. INDRA emphasizes this point,
noting everyone has made major changes and supported each other in
decisions to turn away from abuse.

INDRA further explains the group is starting a new life free from
abuse. GINA admits this means the group has its work cut out. This
reminds ALICE of the need for anti domestic violence training as part
of her company's ethics program, something ALICE wishes she did not
have to deal with.

INDRA resonates she wishes such training was entirely unnecessary and
there was no need for domestic abuse support groups. However INDRA
reflects the reality is support groups like this one are in fact
necessary and encourages the group to work through some personal
growth exercises.

Scene VI: BOB Gets Help

At some unspecified time, BOB is placed under a court order to obtain abuser
counseling and meets with JILL, a BIP counselor. JILL opens the session by reviewing BOB's release
forms and explaining the confidential nature of the counseling,
specifically that anything said in the room stays in the room.

JILL reiterates the court has granted BOB probation conditioned upon
participating in the BIP and honoring ALICE's protective order. JILL
explains the program is demanding as well as psychologically strenuous.
She also asks BOB if he is willing to participate.

BOB says he is willing, but adds he's confused about how this all
happened, since he does not believe himself to be a violent person.
JILL asks BOB for his side of the story. BOB explains he has a high
pressure job so ALICE can stay at home, but she does not appreciate
what he does for her and ignores him. JILL reflects
BOB's job must be demanding and asks if he gets into fights at
work. BOB says no, he is in control at work.

JILL asks if conflicts do not escalate at work, why do they escalate to
violence at home? BOB says he tries to avoid fighting but ALICE won't
listen to reason. JILL asks BOB to look at the problem from another
perspective, namely that he chose to solve this particular problem
with violence.

JILL explains the BIP provides BOB the opportunity to learn the root
causes of his anger and change his behavior. BOB asks
if it is really possible for him to change and get his family back.
JILL tells BOB since he does not respond to problems with anger at
work, there is no need for him to respond with anger at home.